SHARED from Fr. Jim Chern at Montclair State University in New JerseyNOVENA TO BLESSED JOHN PAUL IIPope
Born in Poland - May 18, 1920
Ordained a Priest - November 1, 1946
Ordained a Bishop - Sept 28, 1958
Elected Pope - October 16, 1978
Entered Eternal Life - April 2, 2005
Beatified - May 1, 2011
Novena - October 13 - October 21
Feast Day: October 22

NOVENA TO BLESSED JOHN PAUL II

Priest: In the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit.People: AmenPriest: O Lord, open my lips.People: And my mouth shall proclaim your praise.Priest: O God come to my assistance.People: O Lord, make haste to help me.

Priest: Glory to the Father, and to the Son and to the Holy Spirit,People: As it was in the beginning, is now, and ever shall be; world without end, AMEN

DAILY READING: Optional

Pray: 1 Our Father; 1 Hail Mary; 1 Glory Be

Litany to the Venerable Servant of God John Paul II
(Leader in plain font; Responses in BOLD)

Kyrie eleison; Kyrie eleison
Christe eleison; Christe eleison
Kyrie eleison; Kyrie eleison
Christ hear us, Christ graciously hear us
God the Father of heaven, have mercy on us
God the Son, Redeemer of the world, have mercy on us
God the Holy Spirit, have mercy on us
Holy Trinity, one God, have mercy on us
Holy Mary, Mother of God, pray for us
Servant of God, John Paul II, pray for us
Perfect disciple of Christ, pray for us
Generously gifted with the gifts of the Holy Spirit; pray for us
Great apostle of Divine Mercy; pray for us
Faithful Son of Mary; pray for us
Totally dedicated to the Mother of God; pray for us
Persevering preacher of the Gospel; pray for us
Pilgrim Pope; pray for us
Pope of the Millennium; pray for us
Model of industry; pray for us
Model of priests; pray for us
Drawing strength from the Eucharist; pray for us
Untiring man of prayer; pray for us
Lover of the rosary; pray for us
Strength of those doubting their faith; pray for us
Desiring to unite all those who believe in Christ; pray for us
Converter of sinners; pray for us
Defender of the dignity of every person; pray for us
Defender of life from conception to natural death; pray for us
Praying for the gift of parenthood for the infertile; pray for us
Friend of children; pray for us
Leader of youth; pray for us
Intercessor of families, pray for us
Comforter of the suffering; pray for us
Manly bearing his pain; pray for us
Sower of divine joy; pray for us
Great intercessor for peace; pray for us
Pride of the Polish nation; pray for us
Brilliance of the Holy Church; pray for us
That we may be faithful imitators of Christ; pray for us
That we may be strong with the power of the Holy Spirit; pray for us
That we may have trust in the Mother of God; pray for us
That we may grow in our faith, hope, and charity; pray for us
That we may live in peace in our families; pray for us
That we may know how to forgive; pray for us
That we may know how to bear suffering; pray for us
That we may not succumb to the culture of death; pray for us
That we may not be afraid and courageously fight off various temptations; pray for us
That he would intercede for us the grace of a happy death; pray for us
Lamb of God, you take away the sins of the world, spare us, O Lord
Lamb of God, you take away the sins of the world, graciously hear us, O Lord
Lamb of God, you take away the sins of the world, have mercy on us
Pray for us, Venerable Servant of God John Paul II, That we may become worthy of the promises of Christ

PRAYER FOR THE CANONIZATION OF BLESSED JOHN PAUL II

O Blessed Trinity, we thank you for having graced the Church with Pope John Paul II and for allowing the tenderness of your Fatherly care, the glory of the cross of Christ, and the splendor of the Holy Spirit to shine through him. Trusting fully in your infinite mercy and in the maternal intercession of Mary, he has given us a living image of Jesus the Good Shepherd, and has shown us that holiness is the necessary measure of ordinary Christian life and the way of achieving eternal communion with you. Grant us, by his intercession, and according to your will the graces we implore, especially for [PAUSE TO ADD YOUR INTENTION] . . . we ask this, hoping that he will soon be numbered among your saints. AMEN

Conclusion
Make the Sign of the Cross as you say

MAY THE LORD BLESS US, PROTECT US FROM ALL EVIL AND BRING US TO EVERLASTING LIFE - AMEN

NOVENA TO OUR LADY OF GOOD COUNSELFEAST APRIL 26Holy Virgin, moved by the painful uncertainty we experience in seeking and acquiring the true and the good, we cast ourselves at thy feet and invoke thee under the sweet title of Mother of Good Counsel. We beseech thee: come to our aid at this moment in our worldly sojourn when the twin darknesses of error and of evil that plots our ruin by leading minds and hearts astray.

Seat of Wisdom and Star of the Sea, enlighten the victims of doubt and of error so that they may not be seduced by evil masquerading as good; strengthen them against the hostile and corrupting forces of passion and of sin.

Mother of Good Counsel, obtain for us from thy Divine Son the love of virtue and the strength to choose, in doubtful and difficult situations, the course agreeable to our salvation. Supported by thy hand we shall thus journey without harm along the paths taught us by the word and example of Jesus our Savior, following the Sun of Truth and Justice in freedom and safety across the battlefield of life under the guidance of thy maternal Star, until we come at length to the harbor of salvation to enjoy with thee unalloyed and everlasting peace. Amen.

(By Pope Pius XII, 23 January 1953)HISTORY OF OUR LADY OF GOOD COUNSEL Records dating from the reign of Paul II (1464-71) relate that the picture of Our Lady, at first called "La Madonna del Paradiso" and now better known as "Madonna del Buon Consiglio", appeared at Genazzano, a town about twenty-five miles southeast of Rome, on St. Mark's Day, 25 April, 1467, in the old church of Santa Maria, which had been under the care of Augustinians since 1356. The venerated icon itself, which is drawn on a thin scale of wall-plaster little thicker than a visiting-card, was observed to hang suspended in the air without the slightest apparent support; thus early tradition, which furthermore tells how one might have passed a thread around the image without touching it. At once devotion to Our Lady inSanta Maria sprang up; pilgrim-bands began to resort thither; while miracles in ever-increasing numbers, of which a register was opened two days after the event, were wrought, as they still continue to be, at the shrine. In July following, Pope Paul deputed two bishops to investigate the alleged wonder-working image. Their report, however, is not known to be extant. The cult of Our Lady increased. In 1630 Urban VIII himself went to Genazzano on a pilgrimage, as didPius IX in 1864. On 17 November, 1682, Innocent XI had the picture crowned with gold by theVatican Basilica. In 1727 Benedict XIII granted the clergy of Genazzano an Office and Mass ofOur Lady for 25 April, anniversary of the apparition, elsewhere the feast being kept a day later so as not to conflict with that of St. Mark the Evangelist. On 2 July, 1753, Benedict XIVapproved of the Pious Union of Our Lady of Good Counsel for the faithful at large, and was himself enrolled therein as its pioneer member; Pius IX was a member, and also Leo XIII. On 18 December, 1779, Pius VI, while re-approving the cult of Our Lady, granted all Augustinians anOffice with hymns, lessons, prayer and Mass proper of double-major rite; with a plenary indulgence also for the faithful, to which Pius VIII added another for visitors to the shrine. On 18 December, 1884, Leo XIII approved of a new Office and Mass of second-class rite for allAugustinians, while on 17 March, 1903, he elevated the church of Santa Maria — one of the four parish churches at Genazzano — to the rank of minor basilica; and, on 22 April following, authorized the insertion in the Litany of Loreto of the invocation "Mater Boni Consillii" to follow that of "Mater Admirabilis". The same pontiff, ten years earlier (21 December, 1893) hadsanctioned the use of the White Scapular of Our Lady of Good Counsel for the faithful. In theUnited States there are many churches and institutions in honour of Our Lady of Good Counsel.SHARED FROM CATHOLIC ENCYCLOPEDIA

Saturday in the Octave of EasterLectionary: 266

Reading 1ACTS 4:13-21

Observing the boldness of Peter and Johnand perceiving them to be uneducated, ordinary men,the leaders, elders, and scribes were amazed,and they recognized them as the companions of Jesus.Then when they saw the man who had been cured standing there with them,they could say nothing in reply.So they ordered them to leave the Sanhedrin,and conferred with one another, saying,“What are we to do with these men?Everyone living in Jerusalem knows that a remarkable signwas done through them, and we cannot deny it.But so that it may not be spread any further among the people,let us give them a stern warningnever again to speak to anyone in this name.”

So they called them backand ordered them not to speak or teach at all in the name of Jesus.Peter and John, however, said to them in reply,“Whether it is right in the sight of Godfor us to obey you rather than God, you be the judges.It is impossible for us not to speak about what we have seen and heard.”After threatening them further,they released them,finding no way to punish them,on account of the people who were all praising Godfor what had happened.

Responsorial Psalm PS 118:1 AND 14-15AB, 16-18, 19-21

R. (21a) I will give thanks to you, for you have answered me.or:R. Alleluia.Give thanks to the LORD, for he is good,for his mercy endures forever.My strength and my courage is the LORD,and he has been my savior.The joyful shout of victoryin the tents of the just.R. I will give thanks to you, for you have answered me.or:R. Alleluia.“The right hand of the LORD is exalted;the right hand of the LORD has struck with power.”I shall not die, but live,and declare the works of the LORD.Though the LORD has indeed chastised me,yet he has not delivered me to death.R. I will give thanks to you, for you have answered me.or:R. Alleluia.Open to me the gates of justice;I will enter them and give thanks to the LORD.This is the gate of the LORD;the just shall enter it.I will give thanks to you, for you have answered meand have been my savior.R. I will give thanks to you, for you have answered me.or:R. Alleluia.

Gospel MK 16:9-15

When Jesus had risen, early on the first day of the week,he appeared first to Mary Magdalene,out of whom he had driven seven demons.She went and told his companions who were mourning and weeping.When they heard that he was aliveand had been seen by her, they did not believe.

After this he appeared in another formto two of them walking along on their way to the country.They returned and told the others;but they did not believe them either.

But later, as the Eleven were at table, he appeared to themand rebuked them for their unbelief and hardness of heartbecause they had not believed thosewho saw him after he had been raised.He said to them, “Go into the whole worldand proclaim the Gospel to every creature.”

(Vatican Radio) Blessed John XXIII is best remembered as Good Pope John, the ordinary man who astonished the world! But while he has gone down in history books as the pope to have launched the Catholic Church into one of its most momentous epochs by callling the Second Vatican Ecumenical Council it is the very human side to his personality that captures people's hearts and imaginations.

People like those you can hear in this programme who tell tales of the this Pope's natural flair for communication, of his attempts to downsize the pomp and circumstance of the papal court of the time and even of his sense of humour .Among the archive recordings in this programme are interviews with a Roman Princess, Winston Churchill's first cousin and a Monsignor who was close to John XXIII.

A programme presented and produced by Veronica Scarisbrick.Listen: Also in this programme are sound clips of the speeches and homilies of Good Pope John from our Vatican Radio archives.

Text from pageof the Vatican Radio website

Streamed live on 23 Apr 2014

From the vatican media center , briefing with journalists relating to the canonisation on the life and the petrin ministry of John XXIII with the participation of Bishop Battista Angelo Pansa , John XXIII scholar, and Guido Gusso, John XXIII valet.

(Vatican Radio) The Holy See has confirmed that Pope Emeritus Benedict XVI has accepted the invitation and communicated to Pope Francis that he will attend the Mass of Canonization of John Paul II and John XXIII. The Pope Emeritus will concelebrate. This does not mean that he will be at the Altar; rather he will be together with the Cardinals and Bishops on the left side of the Sanctuary.

(Vatican Radio) On the Saturday morning, Pope Francis received in audience Mr Arseniy Yatsenyuk, the Prime Minister of Ukraine, in the Apostolic Palace. Mr Yatsenyuk later met with the Secretary of State, Cardinal Pietro Parolin, along with the Secretary for Relations with States, Archbishop Dominique Mamberti.

During the cordial talks, which took place in the context of the good bilateral relations between the Holy See and Ukraine, the current situation was discussed, with the hope that all interested parties would work together constructively for the restoration of political and social stability of the country, within the scope of international law, and that they would promote understanding among the peoples of the Region. The specific role of churches and religious organizations, and of individual believers, in fostering mutual respect and harmony among all sections of society was also noted.

Finally, possible further action by the international community was mentioned.

He succeeded St. Caius in the bishopric of Rome, in 296, about the time that Diocletian set himself up for a deity and impiously claimed divine honours. Theodoret says that in those stormy times of persecution Marcellinus acquired great glory. He sat in St. Peter's chair eight years, three months, and twenty-five days, dying in 304, a year after the cruel persecution broke out, in which he gained much honour. He has been styled a martyr, though his blood was not shed in the cause of religion, as appears from the Liberian Calendar, which places him among those popes that were not put to death for the faith.

It is a fundamental maxim of the Christian morality, and a truth which Christ has established in the clearest terms and in innumerable passages of the gospel, that the cross, or sufferings and mortifications, are the road to eternal bliss. They, therefore, who lead not here a crucified and mortified life are unworthy ever to possess the unspeakable joys of his kingdom. Our Lord himself, our model and our head, walked in this path, and his great apostle puts us in mind that he entered into bliss only by his blood and by the cross. Nevertheless, this is a truth which the world can never understand, how clearly soever it be preached by Christ and recommended by his powerful example and that of his martyrs and of all the saints. Christians still pretend, by the joys and pleasures of this world, to attain to the bliss of heaven, and shudder at the very mention of mortification, penance, or sufferings. So prevalent is this fatal error, which self-love and the example and false maxims of the world strongly fortify in the minds of many, that those who have given themselves to God with the greatest fervour are bound always to stand upon their guard against it, and daily to renew their fervour in the love and practice of penance, and to arm themselves with patience against sufferings, lest the weight of the corruption of our nature, the pleasures of sense, and flattering blandishments of the world, draw them aside and make them leave the path of mortification, or lose courage under its labours, and under the afflictions with which God is pleased to purify them and afford them means of sanctifying themselves.

2014

Amazing Saint Pope John Paul II's most Famous Pictures - Share! A tribute to his Memorable Moments... JPII We Love You!For Full Coverage of the Canonization Including LIVE Mass Video from VaticanLIKE NOWhttp://fb.com/catholicnewsworld